Remembering Sister Eleanor "Alexis" Mac Eachen, DW, 90, Sr. Alexis Marie of the Holy Face, 05/30/1929 – 01/27/2020, 70 years professed
Sr. Alexis Mac Eachen died peacefully in the early morning of January 27, 2020 at Our Lady of Consolation in West Islip, NY.
Sr. Alexis served as Director of R.C.I.A. and Spiritual Director for the Rosary Society at St. James Parish in Setauket, New York until she moved to Our Lady of Consolation Geriatric Care Center in West Islip, New York. Prior to that, she was on the Spirituality Development Team at the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida and on the Leadership team of “Renew.” Previously, Sister served for over 31 years as an elementary school teacher, most recently for four years at Montfort Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Sr. Alexis spent most of her teaching career at St. Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park, New York, interspersed with several years at Acadia School in Madawaska Maine, St. Mary’s in Norfolk, Virginia and Our Lady of Wisdom in Ozone Park, New York.
Born in Kearney, New Jersey to Alexander and Mary Reynolds Mac Eachen, Sr. Alexis graduated from Our Lady of Wisdom Academy in Ozone Park, NY in 1947, going on to St. John’s University in Jamaica, Queens, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education for Pre-K through grade 6, After that, she received a Master of Science, Reading Specialist from Hunter College in New York City, followed by a M.A.P.S. in Pastoral Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Sr. Alexis entered religious life on February 2, 1949. Immediately after her profession, she became a seamstress, working in that profession until earning her first teaching degree. Sister is predeceased by her parents and sisters, Alexandra and Mary, and is survived by her brother, Hugh, and his wife, Joyce.
In a reflection, Sr. Alexis once shared, “A Symbol that depicts me in my ministry is wind and fire. I mean the wind of spirit that blows all these people my way and the fire waiting to warm us.” Known for her superb cooking skills, Sr. Alexis will be remembered as a woman of strong conviction, compassionate and unrelenting in her dedication to connecting people with resources.
Donations in Sr. Alexis’ memory can be made to https://secure.etransfer.com/EFT/BlockCode/donation1.cfm…
The following Eulogy for Sr. Eleanor “Alexis” Mac Eachen was given by Sr. Laura Algiere, DW.
Sr. Lucy Clynes summarized her experience of Sr. Alexis in this quote from the Wisdom writings of the Bible:
Simply I learned about her, and ungrudgingly do I share, for her riches I do not hide away. Wisdom 7:13
Others who knew and loved Sr. Alexis shared their thoughts and so we have a mosaic of comments to share with you today, in the hope that you will recognize some features of your “big sister, Eleanor;” your Aunt Eleanor; your community member, Sr. Alexis; your friend; your colleague; perhaps your former teacher -- features which touched you as well.
After Eleanor Mac Eachen professed vows as a Daughter of Wisdom in 1949, she served for a brief time as a seamstress and then for many years as a teacher in various locations: Ozone Park, NY; Norfolk, VA; Madawaska, ME. At Cathedral Prep in Brooklyn and Montfort Academy in Fredericksburg, VA she applied the skills added by her degree as a Reading Specialist.
She taught at St. Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park, NY, during four different periods. Sr. Lucy commented about two of those time frames. The first occurred when Sr. Lucy was a very young Daughter of Wisdom and had not yet made her final vows.
“To say Lex was unique is an understatement. As the Junior High English teacher, she demonstrated both creativity and a deep love for her students. Structure, rules and schedules were values known to be important but not to Lex. The level of freedom and independence that I observed in Alexis struck awe in my “junior professed” self.”
When Sr. Lucy returned a bit later to Gate of Heaven as an administrator, she observed: “And there awaited me, Alexis, still the Language Arts Junior High Teacher who continued to foster creativity, poetry and love of language within the souls of all her students; and for whom, structure, rules and schedules continued to remain as low priorities.”
At the Wake yesterday, Jill Olsen, a 6th grade student of Sr. Alexis appeared. She was stunned to hear this paradox. Sr. Alexis “ran a very tight ship in her classroom!”
Sr. Bernadette Sassone, who was also on staff at that time, recalls:
“Sr. Alexis was a truly artistic teacher who enjoyed life and color and creation. She was a lovely community member in the old days at Gate of Heaven.”
Now, that sounds like a person who’d absorbed Celtic spirituality, doesn’t it?
In 1984, both Srs. Alexis and Lucy Clynes answered the call to mission in Switzerland, Florida along with Sr. Evelyn Eckhardt, Frs. Gene Lynch and Don LaSalle, forming what would become known as the Montfort Community. Sr. Lucy recalls: “I appreciated the many interactions Alexis and I shared on a whole range of topics. Her studies in Spiritual Direction from Creighton University provided her with deeper knowledge of the faith and new perspectives on the Scriptures. Many people throughout the Diocese connected with her for Spiritual Direction and came to discover her generous spirit and the warmth of her friendship.”
Some five years later when the Montfort community ended, Lex began working in St. James Parish in Setauket as a Pastoral Associate and connecting with the college students at Stony Brook University. Alexis delighted in sharing our Wisdom Spirituality with this new age group, with whom she declared her passionate love of Wisdom Who “permeates all things.” As a matter of fact, her ministry was always finding new outlets; for example, ministering within the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at the parish allowed her to encourage, support and strengthen the love for the Scriptures that was so much a part of her life.
It was at this time that Lex was living in community with her dear friend, Sr. Margaret (Peg) McPeak. They both worked in St. James Parish in two separate ministries, but with many overlapping parish relationships, and to this day, parishioners of St. James speak very fondly of these two Daughters of Wisdom who brought such life and love to their community.
It was Sr. Peg who endured the “let go” of seeing Lex off to Consolation Residence in April 2011. Lex’s comments after she settled in reassured us that she was content. She told Peg, “It’s the best hotel I’ve ever been in.” And Sr. Agnes Bracken head her say, “I like it here.” Sr. Agnes saw how the staff loved her. In fact, the head-nurse’s husband had been one of her students at Gate of Heaven! Besides the friendly and helpful staff, Lex loved the visits from the pet-therapy dogs.
Lex, visiting you was always a pleasure – to be met with your beaming smile and warm welcome. What your friend, Sr. Lucy Clynes said is so true: “Alexis loved life and her smile could radiate an entire room.”
Florida pastor, Fr. Keith Brennan, who knew Lex from the Montfort Community days, said, “She died as she would want to, letting go!”
Sr. Alexis of the Holy Face, this is the little we know of you. There’s so much more, wrapped in mystery, and known in loving detail by Eternal Wisdom, your friend and your God! Go in peace, dear Lex. This time the banquet’s all ready for you, and the vision of the face of the God you have so loved will surely light your radiant smile.
January 30, 2020
